British Open proves again why it is the least predictable major

Day lamented finishing bogey, bogey, bogey for a 71 to be even par and six shots back, having been only two off the lead late in his round in driving rain.

The 147th Open Championship continues into the weekend at Carnoustie Golf Club in Scotland - the seventh time in history that the storied course has played host to golf's oldest major.

As for that other Johnson? It was the second straight year that No. 1 and No. 2 in the world missed the cut in a major, and Johnson became the first No. 1 player to miss the cut at the British Open since Luke Donald in 2011.

Instead, it floated out of the yellow grass to the right, bounced off the base of the rock wall that frames the winding stream and led to a double bogey.

Dustin Johnson, the No. 1 player in the world, finished bogey-double bogey for a 72 and missed the cut by one. That hasn't kept the casual fan from occasionally calling Zach by the wrong name.

"I thought I had the golf ball a little more control under today", he told Sky Sports.

Players were greeted by the most parched fairways in recent times, a straw-coloured hue perhaps even drier than at the 2006 Open at Royal Liverpool.

Zach Johnson has more than held his own. In the power era of golf, he is more of a pistol than a cannon. Surprisingly, that 12th PGA Tour win is his last to date. He made another bogey on the next hole, and just like that he was on the cut line. Tommy Fleetwood fires a 65, putting the Carnoustie course record holder (63) just one back at 5 under.

Australia's weather-weary golfer stars are close enough if good enough to bring back the Claret Jug after surviving two soul-searching rounds to remain in British Open contention. "Even if it's windy, as long as it's not wet, I'll try and get myself back into it".

"Geez, under those conditions, I would have taken that score going out", said the Northern Irishman after posting a 138 total along with South African pair Erik Van Rooyen and Zander Lombard and Americans Matt Kuchar and Tony Finau. "It wasn't that bad, but it was just damp enough and cold enough that the game plan that I was trying to adapt to be aggressive and hit driver a lot, I just couldn't do it".

But he regained his focus on day three and birdied the first before cruising to the turn in 34, and Rose picked up five further shots on the inward half including a three at the 18th for the third day running.

Spieth showed his trademark grit in bouncing back from a rough finish Thursday, when he mis-clubbed on the 15 hole, leading to a double bogey, and ended up playing the last four holes in 4 over.